{"id":2684,"date":"2025-07-08T02:44:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-08T02:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/columbiasocialenterprise.org\/conferencearchive\/?page_id=2684"},"modified":"2025-07-08T03:11:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-08T03:11:32","slug":"2017-conference","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/columbiasocialenterprise.org\/conferencearchive\/2017-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"2017 Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Social Enterprise Conference
Leaders Taking a Stand: Social Impact in Turbulent Times<\/p>

October 6, 2017 | 8:45 AM\u20135:30 PM | Columbia University\u2019s Alfred Lerner Hall, Auditorium, 2920 Broadway, New York, NY 10027<\/p>

The current political climate creates an uneasy world stage for companies to navigate. Who are the business leaders who are stepping up to the challenge and leading by example?\u00a0In turbulent times whom do we look to for leadership? Join us on October 6, 2017 as we explore how to enact social impact across disciplines: philanthropies, nonprofit organizations, social ventures, and traditional business. In this year\u2019s conference you will meet business and organizational leaders who actively use their platform to drive change in\u00a0education reform, the refugee crisis, job creation for the formerly incarcerated, and climate change.<\/p>

As Shaiza Rizavi, \u201996BUS, emphasized in her remarks at the 2017 Tamer Center for Social Enterprise Awards Breakfast, we each have a role to play for this is our future to form. What could we accomplish together if we each collaborated with one or two people in this room? We have a choice to call upon each other and motivate ourselves and others into action. Take a stand towards driving innovation and impact around social challenges and participate in our day-long interactive workshop led by TYTHEdesign. During the workshop, participants will use the insights and best practices from conference speakers to create strategies and solutions for impact with cross-disciplinary thinkers, innovators, and changemakers.<\/span><\/p>

Letter from co-chairs<\/h4>

When brainstorming with students from across campus about what the conference theme should be, we heard a lot of interest in how business leaders use their platforms to address societal change and create solutions. Whether we take action through a business, a movement, or as an individual, we each have a role to play in addressing societal challenges.<\/p>

How do I identify the challenge? What are the areas of opportunity for impact? What is my role? This year\u2019s conference will provide attendees with a tool set for looking at a societal challenge from the lens of philanthropies, nonprofits, social ventures, or traditional businesses.<\/p>

This program is designed to deep dive into four critical societal challenges: education reform, the refugee crisis, job creation for the formerly incarcerated, and climate change. Hear how businesses are implementing innovative methods and identifying solutions to address these challenges. Lessons learned can be applied to the day\u2019s workshop.<\/p>

Attendees will leave feeling empowered and prepared to participate and lead in driving social impact. We hope that you will learn from and connect with each other, and that you continue the day\u2019s workshop well beyond the conference.<\/p>

— Thayna Silva \u201918BUS \u00a0& \u00a0JoAnne Williams \u201918BUS<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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8:00-8:45<\/p><\/td>

Registration Opens and Networking<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

8:45-9:00<\/p><\/td>

Welcome Remarks and Conference Objectives\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

9:00-9:50<\/p><\/td>

Opening Keynote – Leading by Example: Driving Societal Change Through Innovative Marketing Campaigns\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

10:00-10:30<\/p><\/td>

A Background on the Societal Challenges\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

10:30-10:40<\/p><\/td>

Introduction to Design Thinking<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

10:40-10:55<\/p><\/td>

Coffee Break\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

10:45-12:15<\/p><\/td>

Defining the Challenge and Identifying Opportunities for Impact\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

12:15-1:30<\/p><\/td>

Lunch and Networking\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

1:30-2:15<\/p><\/td>

Aligning Business + Social Mission\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

2:15-4:00<\/p><\/td>

Building Out an Idea and Fine-tuning the Social Business Model Canvas<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

4:00-4:30<\/p><\/td>

Coffee Break\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

4:30-5:15<\/p><\/td>

Closing Keynote – Business for the Common Good\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

5:15<\/p><\/td>

Closing Remarks and Thank You from Thayana Teixeira da Silva \u201818BUS and Joanne Williams \u201818BUS, MBA Candidates, CBS\u00a0<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Opening Keynote – Leading by Example: Driving Societal Change Through Innovative Marketing Campaigns<\/h3>

Joy Benfante<\/b>, Coordinator Corporate Social Responsibility, HBO\u00a0<\/p>

Sandee Borgman<\/b>, Director of Entertainment and Influencer Relations, International Rescue Committee (IRC)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Joy<\/strong> Benfante<\/b> has been with the Time Warner Corporate family for 17 years first starting at the music division, Atlantic Records, and eventually moving to corporate overseeing support in the office of the ceo. It is there that she built relationships within the TW divisions that landed her a position at Home Box Office, HBO, in 2010 where Joy happily marries two of her passions, media + social good, in her position with the Corporate Social Responsibility team, #HBOInspires. Joy is a native New Yorker by heart and considers growing up in Michigan the sixth borough of NYC, the one with the cornfields. She made NYC her home in 1999 and has drifted across the river to settle in NJ with her family. Joy enjoys hiking, beach time, and hearing her son belly laugh.<\/p>

After 15 years of managing musicians and 9 years producing content for Lorne Michaels\/Broadway Video, Sandee Borgman\u2019s<\/strong> career turned towards nonprofit. She spent 7 years at the U.S. Fund for UNICEF developing the Ambassador Program recruiting artist such as Tea Leoni, Sarah Jessica Parker, Laurence Fishburne, Lucy Liu, Alyssa Milano, India.Arie, Clay Aiken and Angela Bassett along with establishing a partnership with the National Basketball Association. In 2007, she moved over to the human rights landscape and joined Amnesty International as Director of the Creative Group which was responsible for artist relations in music and film, branding, merchandising, advertising and marketing. She and her team were responsible for recruiting artists such as Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, Tom Morello, Sting, Yoko Ono, Patrick Stewart and The Airborne Toxic Event.\u00a0For the past 7 years Sandee\u00a0has been the Director of Entertainment and Influencer Relations for the International Rescue Committee where she has developed relationships with artists and industry partners that represents the culture and mission of the IRC. Individual supporters who travel to the field and use their circle of influence to support the IRC\u2019s refugee programs include: George Clooney, Rashida Jones, Mandy Patinkin, Sarah Wayne Callies, Morena Baccarin, Piper Perabo as well as Game of Thrones cast Lena Headey, Liam Cunningham, and Maisie Williams. Entertainment partners include HBO, Warner Bros. Television, and United Talent Agency. Sandee is very proud to share her experience bridging the worlds of nonprofit and entertainment.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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A Background on the Societal Challenges<\/h3>

During this year\u2019s conference, attendees will have the opportunity to learn the skill set needed for mapping out a societal challenge and identifying solutions. Speakers will provide a brief background on the societal challenges in four topic areas: climate change, job creation for formerly incarcerated people (FIPs), the refugee crisis, and education reform. This session will set the stage for our hackathon later in the day, where participants will use the insights and best practices from conference speakers to create strategies and solutions for impact with cross-disciplinary thinkers, innovators, and changemakers.<\/p>

Tracy Breslin<\/b>,<\/b> Adjunct Associate Professor, CBS<\/p>

Bruce Usher<\/b>, Co-director of the Tamer Center, Elizabeth B. Strickler \u201886 and Mark T. Gallogly \u201886 Faculty Director, Professor of Professional Practice, CBS\u00a0<\/p>

Cheryl Wilkins<\/b>, Senior Director of Education and Programs, Columbia University\u2019s Center for Justice<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Tracy Breslin<\/strong> has dedicated her career to ensuring that all students \u2013 regardless of background \u2013 have access to a high-quality education that prepares them to succeed in school and life. Tracy has over seventeen years of experience in education and nonprofit management. Tracy has served as a talent management consultant since 2011, working with a variety of urban school districts and state departments of education on initiatives including school leadership, principal supervisors, educator evaluations, talent management, and more. As Interim Chief Talent Officer at Newark Public Schools, she designed and led the district\u2019s human capital reform agenda to ensure that there is an effective teacher in every classroom and leader in every school. She facilitated district-union negotiations leading to a breakthrough teacher contract including one of the nation\u2019s first comprehensive performance-based compensation systems, peer observers in evaluations, and school empowerment and flexibility. Tracy also led teams to redesign educator evaluation, develop and implement new teacher and principal selection processes, create a new Talent Division, and institute a school-based strategic staffing system to promote mutual matches based on principal autonomy and educator choice. Before becoming an independent consultant, Tracy worked at the New York City Department of Education. As the Executive Director of the Office of School Leadership, she led a team to recruit, select, train, and evaluate 1,600 principals and 3,500 assistant principals. Previously, as the Director of School Leadership, Tracy coordinated programs to train and support aspiring and current school leaders. Prior to joining the NYC DOE, Tracy led recruitment and admissions at New Leaders for New Schools, a national non-profit organization focused on attracting and preparing outstanding school leaders. She also led organizational strategy, fund development, and talent identification to support the organization\u2019s expansion. Tracy launched her career in public education by evaluating and designing Universal PreKindergarten programs, working in after-school programs, and facilitating professional development for educators. Tracy has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BS in Human Development and Family Studies from Cornell University. She is a graduate of the Broad Residency in Urban Education.<\/p>

Bruce Usher<\/strong> is a Professor of Practice and The Elizabeth B. Strickler \u201986 and Mark T. Gallogly \u201986 Faculty Director of the Tamer Center for Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School. Professor Usher teaches MBA students on the intersection of finance, social and environmental issues, and is a recipient of the Dean\u2019s Award for Teaching Excellence. Prior to his work at Columbia, Professor Usher was CEO of EcoSecurities Group plc, during which time he built it into the world\u2019s largest carbon credit company. EcoSecurities developed more than 400 projects in 36 countries, representing approximately 10% of all projects approved by the United Nations under the Kyoto Protocol. EcoSecurities was acquired by JP Morgan in 2009. Usher was previously the co-founder and CEO of TreasuryConnect LLC, which provided electronic trading solutions to banks and was acquired in 2001. Prior to that, he worked in financial services for twelve years in New York and Tokyo. Professor Usher is an active investor and advisor to entrepreneurial ventures focused on climate change and clean energy (UsherWorks.com<\/a>). He is a board member of Community Energy Inc., OptiRTC Inc, the United Nations Fund for International Partnerships, and is Chairman of the Tamer Fund for Social Ventures. Usher earned an MBA with distinction from Harvard Business School.<\/p>

At Columbia University Cheryl Wilkins<\/strong> is the Senior Director of Education and Programs at the Center for Justice where her work is committed to reducing the nation\u2019s reliance on incarceration, developing new approaches to safety and justice, and participating in the national and global conversation around developing effective criminal justice policy. Cheryl is also an adjunct lecturer at Columbia University School of Social Work where she presents on topics such as reentry, and families and communities affected by mass incarceration.\u00a0Contributing to education, Cheryl is instrumental in developing the Justice in Education Prison Program, a project that is partnering with Hudson Link and Marymount Manhattan programs where Columbia University professors are teaching inside Bedford Hills, Taconic and Sing Sing Correctional Facilities. In the community Cheryl is a consultant for Healing Community Network, a program which offers support groups inside prison as well as in the community. Cheryl\u2019s area of research has been, Changing Minds: the Impact that College Has on Women in a Maximum Security Prison and Project WORTH-Women on the Road to Health, a Columbia University-Social Intervention Group study that uniquely identifies the effectiveness of integrating HIV prevention, substance use, gender-based violence, and linkage to care tailored specifically for women. She has a graduate degree in Urban Affairs. Cheryl sits on the board of Community Collaborative Research Board (Social Intervention Group) and the Fortune Society. She is the recipient of the Brian Fischer, Davis Putter scholarship, the Sister Mary Nerney Visonary Award and the Citizens against Recidivism Awards.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Introduction to Design Thinking<\/h3>

Conventional problem-solving tools often lead to run-of-the-mill solutions, hence in a fast-changing world, the problem-solving methodology has to be different. In collaboration with TYTHEdesgin, this year\u2019s conference will provide participants an opportunity to go beyond the theoretical and put techniques into practice by working in teams on real-world challenges.<\/p>

Participants will have the opportunity to join workshop groups with fellow attendees from across the University to identify impactful strategies for problem-solving one of our four selected topics: climate change, job creation for formerly incarcerated people (FIPs), the refugee crisis, and education reform.<\/p>

Kristina Drury<\/b>, Founder and Creative Director, TYTHEdesign<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Kristina Drury<\/strong> is a social entrepreneur, designer, and educator. Over the past five years, Kristina has led TYTHE to work with over 75 clients and support organizations creating impact on a local and global scale.\u00a0Prior to starting TYTHEdesign, Kristina co-led the nonprofit Project H Design, a charitable organization focused on design for social change, and directed social innovation at Get Storied. Her diverse background includes work in corporate social responsibility, education, social innovation, industrial design, and architecture. She holds a Masters in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and a Bachelors of Science in Architecture.\u00a0Kristina\u2019s work and publications have been taken root around the globe. She has been recognized by numerous organizations, including the Victor J. Papanek Social Design Awards, the Core 77 Awards, Pratt Institute, Public Policy Lab and the UNDP. Most recently, she has recently been recognized as an Agent of Change by the Centre for Social Innovation.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Defining the Challenge & Identifying Opportunities for Impact<\/h3>

This first session will introduce participants to a series of tools and frameworks that will help define the challenges and identify areas in which your group can have the most impact. After participating in this workshop, students can expect to apply this skill set to any challenge or cause they hope to have impact on in their future endeavors.<\/p>

Climate Change and Renewables\u00a0<\/h4>

With a global effort to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, how do we get the average consumer to be more conscious of their carbon footprint? What are the opportunities to create businesses that address the societal impacts of a changing climate? Hear from leaders in the climate and renewables sector about the history of combating climate change, followed by an interactive workshop that will offer a deep-dive into opportunities for environmental impact.<\/p>

CHALLENGE: <\/b>How might we better leverage consumer\u2019s purchasing power to accelerate the adoption of renewables?<\/p>

Education Reform\u00a0<\/h4>

Education is the ultimate empowerment tool for children and families to ensure a brighter, more inclusive future for all. Speakers on this topic will discuss the history of education reform, from traditional district schools to charter schools, and identify both success stories and opportunities for improvement in reducing the US achievement gap. These insights can then be applied in a design-thinking workshop that will uncover opportunities to create organizations that can contribute to the advancement of education.<\/p>

CHALLENGE: <\/strong>How might we help close the achievement gap and strengthen students inside and outside the classroom?<\/p>

Reducing Recidivism: Job Creation and Reentry\u00a0<\/h4>

25% of the world\u2019s incarcerated population are incarcerated in the U.S.\u00b9. Although 650,000 people are released each year, 76.6% of formerly incarcerated people in the U.S. will be rearrested within five years\u00b2. Their absence from society can have a profound impact on community cohesion, public safety, employment prospects, economic wellbeing, and more. How can we bridge the gap between the business community and the criminal justice system to reduce recidivism? speakers will discuss mass incarceration in the U.S. and areas of opportunity for businesses to help reentry.<\/p>

CHALLENGE: <\/b>How might we provide opportunities for formerly incarcerated people (FIP) to successfully enter the job market?<\/p>

Refugee Crisis\u00a0<\/h4>

From refugees to the dreamers, an unprecedented 65.6 million people around the world have been forced from home. Of the 22.5 million refugees, half are under the age of 18\u00b3. speakers will share how they are bringing awareness to and help for refugees and displaced persons around the world. attendees at the interactive workshop can explore ways to increase opportunities for refugees to achieve economic independence.<\/p>

CHALLENGE: <\/strong>How might we provide opportunities for refugees to successfully enter the job market?<\/p>

Aligning Business + Social Mission<\/h3>

Interested in learning how some businesses are currently addressing these challenges? Join us in the session as we hear from entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs as they share how their ventures and organizations are taking innovative approaches to solving societal challenges. These quick talks showcase different strategies for impact, as well as provide examples in business models that have a social impact mission at the forefront.\u00a0<\/p>